Roland Burris, resign  —  The benefit of the doubt had already been stretched thin and taut by the time Roland Burris offered his third version of the events leading to his appointment to the U.S. Senate.  It finally snapped like a rubber band, popping him on that long Pinocchio nose of his, when he came out with version four.

Nutroots suddenly hypersensitive about Nazi/president comparisons  —  For eight years, we've heard “Bushitler” invoked endlessly.  —  Again:  —  And again.  —  And again.  —  And again.  —  And again:  —  Now, the tables have been turned.  Some folks are invoking Nazi allusions against Barack Obama.

Charlie Savage on Obama's embrace of Bush/Cheney “terrorism policies”  —  During the Bush presidency, there were few reporters, if there were any, who were better on issues of civil liberties and executive power abuses than Charlie Savage, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work exposing …

Obama in Valley to unveil foreclosure plan  —  President to outline foreclosure strategy during stop at Mesa's Dobson High School  —  President Barack Obama will unveil a plan today to combat the nation's foreclosure crisis, a plan expected to offer assistance to struggling homeowners …

Cheney and the Goat Devil  —  I was dubious about Will Ferrell doing his Bush impersonation one more time on Broadway.  —  As we lurch through the disasters bequeathed by W. — the economy tanking, 17,000 more troops going to Afghanistan, Chrysler pleading for a total of $9 billion …

Dem exclusive?  Reporters jump ship  —  In three months since Election Day, at least a half-dozen prominent journalists have taken jobs working for the federal government.  —  Journalists, including some of those who've jumped ship, say it's better to have a solid job in government than a shaky job …

Bank nationalisation gains ground with Republicans  —  Long regarded in the US as a folly of Europeans, nationalisation is gaining rapid acceptance among Washington opinion-formers - and not just with Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve chairman.  Perhaps stranger still …

Islamic subversion alleged by speaker  —  A former FBI special agent told law enforcement and Homeland Security personnel that a network of Islamic organizations are working to incrementally implement Islamic law in the United States.  —  During a presentation at the Bedford County Emergency …

GM to End Brands, Cut 47,000 More Jobs  —  Saturn, Hummer Could Be History by 2011 as GM Plans to Slash Dealers; Chrysler Mentions Bankruptcy Option for First Time  —  General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC on Tuesday told the federal government they need at least $21.6 billion more combined …

Palin to pay tax on past per diem  —  EXPENSES: Governor received meal money while living in Wasilla.  —  ldemer@adn.com  —  Gov. Sarah Palin must pay income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her Wasilla home, under a new determination by state officials.

Howard Jacobson: Let's see the ‘criticism’ of Israel for what it really is  —  Emotions have run high over recent events in Gaza.  And in this impassioned and searching essay, our writer argues that just below the surface runs a vicious strain of ancient prejudice

IDIOCY WATCH.... A friend passed along an item from the weekend, with an audio clip of Michele Bachmann chatting with a conservative talk-show host in Minnesota.  In the ongoing debate as to which member of Congress is the single most ridiculous, this interview is very compelling evidence that Bachmann is …

California budget negotiations hit a new snag  —  Senator Dave Cox talks on the cell phone in the senate chambers as lawmakers prepare for another late night at the State Capitol in Sacramento  —  Senate Republicans oust their leader, who had joined with Democrats to forge a budget package containing higher taxes.

Apocalypse now  —  Everyone should be paying attention to the political/fiscal catastrophe now unfolding in California.  Years of neglect, followed by economic disaster — and with all reasonable responses blocked by a fanatical, irrational minority.  —  This could be America next.

Back Home in Alaska, Palin Faces Scrutiny and Second-Guessing From All Sides  —  Scrutiny Has Been Intense Since Election  —  JUNEAU, Alaska — A couple of weeks before the Alaska legislature began this year's session, a bipartisan group of state senators on a retreat a few hours from here invited Gov. Sarah Palin to join them.

Jindal Signals Louisiana May Not Take Stimulus Money  —  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate, has suggested his state may not be interested in all of the roughly $4 billion allotted to it in the economic stimulus package to be signed by President Obama today.

Police foil bomb attack at Citibank in Athens  —  ATHENS, Greece - Greek police destroyed a powerful car bomb left outside the offices of Citibank in a northern Athens suburb early Wednesday in an escalation of left-wing militant attacks.  —  The bomb — 110-130 pounds (50-60 kilograms) …

RAHM'S ‘RENT’ IS JUST THE TIP OF ETHICS ICEBERG  —  NEWS broke last week that Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, lived rent- free for years in the home of Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) - and failed to disclose the gift, as congressional ethics rules mandate.